Evans replaces injured Taylor

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By David Elfin

For the third time in a little more than a month, it's Demetric Evans to the rescue. The jack-of-all-trades on Washington's defensive line, Evans is expected to start in place of the injured Jason Taylor at left end in Sunday's game against the NFC favorite Cowboys in Dallas.

When left end Phillip Daniels suffered a season-ending torn ACL on the first snap of training camp, Evans was set to start. However, the Redskins traded for Taylor hours later. Then, when Taylor sprained his right knee in the Aug. 23 preseason game at Carolina, Evans took over looked like he would be the starter for the opener at the New York Giants. Taylor, however, recovered in time to play.

This time Taylor, who had blood surgically drained from his left calf Monday morning, won't be ready for the Cowboys - and perhaps won't be ready the following week when the Redskins face the Eagles.

"It's definitely a setback [for the defense]," Evans said. "If I know I'm going to be the guy on Wednesday, I'll definitely do some things differently. As a backup, you kind of watch the game from the sideline, and when you go in, you know how they'll attack you. But once you're a starter, you're in there from play one, and they'll probably attack you differently."

Evans, 29, came to the Redskins in 2004 after being cut the previous summer following two years with the Cowboys. He started eight games in place of Daniels as an injury replacement in 2004 but started just four in the past three years.

"It hurts," Zorn said of losing Taylor. "It's an opportunity for the next guy to come in and step up."

Jansen could start

Zorn said right tackle Stephon Heyer's sprained left shoulder could sideline him against Dallas, meaning Jon Jansen would get a start for the first time since suffering a season-ending injury in the 2007 opener.

"I would have [Stephon] listed as out right now because if we had to practice today, he'd be sitting out," Zorn said. "We'll see how his shoulder responds. He would have to practice by Thursday for me to feel comfortable. If he only could practice on Friday, I'd start Jon Jansen. He's been our starter before. I don't see any problem with that. He did fine when he was in there [when Heyer missed the second quarter against Arizona]."

Doughty still in lineup

Defensive coordinator Greg Blache benched Reed Doughty after the strong safety was beaten for a 62-yard touchdown by Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the third quarter, but Zorn believes Doughty is still the starter.

"I think we're still with Reed," Zorn said. "I haven't heard anything different. I haven't thought anything different."

Doughty, who found out he was sitting down when replacement Chris Horton told him, said he's not going to lose sleep over his role or approach Blache to learn his status.

"I thought I had been having a good game," Doughty said. "For one play to decide whether I start or not, I'm not going to worry about it. I'm going to prepare like I'm the starter. If not, I'll be a starter on special teams and try to make an impact that way."

Brotherly bonds

Safety LaRon Landry was driving home from FedEx Field on Sunday night when he learned via text message that his older brother, Baltimore safety Dawan Landry, had been carted off with a spinal cord concussion after tackling Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis. Landry raced to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center to join his parents, who had been at the game, and to check on his brother.

"It was scary, but they said Dawan's going to be fine," Landry said.